阅读说明：本技术 用于运行车辆颗粒过滤器的方法以及用于车辆内燃机的颗粒过滤器 (Method for operating a particulate filter of a vehicle and particulate filter for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle ) 是由 O·格拉布赫尔 R·阿利格 于 2019-02-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于运行车辆(15)的可被废气穿流的颗粒过滤器(1)的方法,在其中将灰分引入颗粒过滤器(1)的过滤体(3)中,沿废气流动方向(6)在过滤体(3)上游至少一种灰分形成物(8)或至少一种灰分组分(8)至少间接地设置在至少一个载体材料(9)上。(The invention relates to a method for operating a particulate filter (1) of a vehicle (15) through which exhaust gas can flow, wherein ash is introduced into a filter body (3) of the particulate filter (1), at least one ash formation (8) or at least one ash component (8) being arranged at least indirectly on at least one carrier material (9) upstream of the filter body (3) in the exhaust gas flow direction (6).)

1. Method for operating a particulate filter (1) of a vehicle (15) through which exhaust gas can flow, in which method ash is introduced into a filter body (3) of the particulate filter (1), characterized in that at least one ash formation (8) or at least one ash component (8) is arranged at least indirectly on at least one carrier material (9) upstream of the filter body (3) in the exhaust gas flow direction (6).

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a particle filter (1) with a catalytic coating is used as particle filter (1).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an organic material is used as the at least one support material (9).

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an ash former or an ash component is used as the at least one carrier material (9).

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that no further ash formers or ash components are used at least on, beside or in the support material (9).

6. A method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the carrier material (9) is disintegrated by means of exhaust gases.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier material (9) is introduced form-fittingly and/or force-fittingly or adhesively or loosely at the end side (7) of the particle filter (1), in particular in front of or above the end side of the filter body (3).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one ash former (8) or ash component (8) is connected to the carrier material (9) positively and/or non-positively or adhesively.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one ash former (8) or ash component (8) is loosely arranged or encapsulated in a carrier material (9).

10. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spacing is formed by shaping of the carrier material (9) or by spacers between the ash former (8) or the ash component (8) on the one hand and the carrier material (9) and the filter body (3) on the other hand.

11. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier material (9) and/or the ash former (8) or the ash component (8) has at least two layers or has a shape providing at least one cavity for introducing the ash former (8) or the ash component (8).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ash formation (8) or ash component (8) is printed onto a carrier material (9) in at least one printed layer.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that a locally different distribution of ash formers (8) or ash components (8) on the carrier material (9) is produced in the at least one printed layer.

14. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ash-forming substance (8) or ash components (8) consist of at least two different materials and/or the respective materials constituting the ash-forming substance (8) or ash components (8) are applied or introduced onto and/or by and/or in the carrier material (9) in locally different concentrations.

15. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ash formation (8) and/or the ash components (8) and/or the carrier material (9) are punched, needled or perforated.

16. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that metals, metal oxides or metal compounds are used as ash formers (8) or ash components (8).

17. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that alkali metal, alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate or alkali metal compound is used as ash former (8) or ash component (8).

18. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that alkali metal in combination with silicon is used as ash former (8) or ash component (8).

19. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that alkaline earth metals, alkaline earth metal oxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal carbonates or alkaline earth metal compounds are used as ash formers (8) or ash components (8).

20. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that magnesium, magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide or magnesium compounds are used as ash former (8) or ash component (8).

21. A method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that calcium, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide or a calcium compound is used as ash former (8) or ash component (8).

22. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, within the scope of manufacturing a vehicle (15) equipped with a particle filter (1), an internal combustion engine (14) of the vehicle (15) is operated such that conditions suitable for the entry of ash into the filter body (3) and/or the disintegration of the carrier material (9) are adjusted at least in the region (11) of the at least one ash formation (8) or ash component (8).

23. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature and/or mass flow of the exhaust gases flowing through the particle filter (1) of an internal combustion engine (14) of a vehicle (15) equipped with the particle filter (1) is adjusted such that ash is deposited at least for the most part on at least one wall (12) of the filter body (3).

24. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the particle filter (1) is used for filtering particles from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine (14) of a vehicle (15) equipped with the particle filter (1) which is operated as a gasoline engine.

25. A particle filter (1) for a vehicle internal combustion engine, having a filter body (3) through which exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine can flow for filtering particles, characterized in that at least one ash formation (8) or at least one ash component (8) is arranged at least indirectly on at least one carrier material (9) upstream of the filter body (3) in the exhaust gas flow direction (6).

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for operating a particle filter of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a particle filter for an internal combustion engine according to the preamble of claim 25.

Background

Particulate filters have long been used for filtering particles, in particular soot particles, from the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines, in particular in the form of diesel engines, of vehicles. Particulate filters are also used in gasoline engines. With the advent of Real Drive Emissions (RDE) regulations, it is expected that vehicles powered by gasoline engines will also be commonly equipped with particulate filters.

It has been found that the corresponding particulate filter in its unused state (also referred to as fresh state) does not yet have its full filtration efficiency. For example, the filtration efficiency of an unused particle filter may only be able to block approximately 50% of the particles contained in the exhaust gas of a corresponding internal combustion engine of a vehicle. Filtration efficiency (also referred to as filtration rate) can be improved by adding soot or ash. The soot can be burned off at a sufficient temperature and in the presence of oxygen. Instead, the ash is substantially retained in the particulate filter over the life of the filter.

But the filtration efficiency increases with the operating time of the engine. Ash, i.e. combustion residues, for example from burning engine oil, contribute to the filtering efficiency of the particulate filter. But it takes some time until a sufficient ash layer is formed on the walls of the particulate filter body, which increases the filtering efficiency of the particulate filter to a desired level. For example, in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine operating as a gasoline engine, a travel distance of approximately 50,000 km may be required to achieve sufficient filtration efficiency.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to improve a method and a particle filter of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that ash can be introduced into the filter body of the particle filter in a particularly simple manner.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and a particle filter having the features of claim 25. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

In the method according to the invention for operating a particulate filter of a vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle, through which exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine can flow, ash is introduced into a filter body of the particulate filter. In particular, during normal operation of a vehicle, for example, designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car, a filter body is used to filter out particles, in particular soot particles, which may be contained in the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas. The ash is introduced into the filter body in a targeted manner or artificially or as desired, also referred to as pre-ashing of the particle filter. The pre-ashing of the particle filter is carried out in order to increase the filtration efficiency (also referred to as filtration rate) thereof in a targeted manner, in particular in comparison with the unused state (also referred to as fresh state) of the particle filter which has not been pre-ashed in the unused state.

The invention therefore focuses on introducing ash into the particulate filter in advance, thereby ensuring that the filtration rate is increased to a sufficiently high level before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. It is also conceivable to carry out the preliminary ashing in the area of maintenance or repair in which the particle filter is first installed on or in the vehicle.

In order to be able to introduce ash into the filter body of the particle filter in a particularly simple manner, according to the invention, at least one ash former (ash) or at least one ash component (ash) is arranged at least indirectly, in particular directly, on at least one carrier material upstream of the filter body in the flow direction of the exhaust gas. In other words, according to the invention, it is provided that at least one ash component is arranged on and/or next to and/or in at least one carrier material upstream of the filter body, at least one ash former or at least one ash component being used as an ash component. The feature "ash former is at least indirectly, in particular directly, arranged on the carrier material" is to be understood in particular to mean that the ash former or the ash component is at least indirectly, in particular directly, arranged on and/or by and/or in the at least one carrier material. The feature "the ash former or the ash component is arranged directly on the carrier material" is to be understood in particular to mean that the ash former or the ash component directly or closely contacts the carrier material. The feature "ash former or ash component is arranged indirectly next to or in and/or on the carrier material" is to be understood in particular to mean that the ash former or ash component is arranged, in particular held, on the carrier material by at least one additional component.

Within the scope of the method according to the inventionThe ash is introduced into the filter body by disposing the at least one ash former or the at least one ash component on and/or by and/or in the at least one carrier material upstream of the filter body. The ash to be introduced into the filter body is formed, for example, from an ash formation or is provided by an ash formation, in particular such that the ash formation is passed through a flow-through particle filter and thus is disintegrated (zerlegen) in the exhaust gas flowing to and/or around the ash formation, i.e. for example is disintegrated

This is to be understood in particular as the disintegration of the ash-forming substances into a plurality of small fractions. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable for the ash formation to be burnt, in particular, by exhaust gas and thus to provide ash. When, for example, the at least one ash component is used, this ash component itself constitutes at least a part of the ash to be introduced into the filter body, so that the ash is introduced into the filter body by introducing the ash component. The support material and the ash formation or the ash component are initially arranged upstream of the filter body into which the ash is to be introduced, relative to the flow direction of the exhaust gas flowing through the particle filter, and preferably downstream of at least one combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle equipped with the particle filter. Then, after the carrier material and the ash formation or ash component are disposed upstream of the filter body, the ash formation provides that the ash or ash component constitutes at least a portion of the ash such that the ash is introduced into the filter body. By introducing ash into the filter body, the ash is deposited, for example, on the respective surface of the respective wall region of the filter body. In this way, ash can be provided to the filter body in a particularly cost-effective manner.

For example, combustion residues, which are the ash to be introduced into the filter body, are produced by combustion of the ash formation. These ashes are introduced, for example, together with the exhaust gas or into the filter bodies of the particulate filter, thereby increasing the filtration efficiency of the particulate filter. This can be done in a simple manner, since only the carrier material with the ash formation or ash component is arranged upstream of the filter body and thus, for example, on the input-side end side of the filter body. In this way, ash can be introduced into the particle filter, in particular into the filter body, particularly at particularly low cost and with little effort.

The support material is, for example, a non-combustible support material. This is to be understood in particular to mean that the support material can be designed such that it does not burn at the temperature at which the ash formation or the ash component burns, so that the ash can be introduced into the filter body particularly simply and specifically. In addition, the support material can also be designed such that it is burnt at a temperature at which the ash formation or the ash components have not yet been burnt, so that the ash can be introduced into the filter body particularly simply and specifically.

It is also conceivable that the ash former or the ash component and the carrier material are made of different materials. For example, the ash is introduced into the filter body in such a way that the ash formation or ash components are separated or separated from the carrier material. In particular, the ash components or ash formers are thermally separated from the support material. For this purpose, in particular the exhaust gas or its temperature is used. In order to introduce ash into the filter body, for example, the internal combustion engine of a vehicle equipped with a particle filter is operated such that the internal combustion engine provides exhaust gas. The exhaust gas then flows through a particulate filter. The exhaust gas preferably has a high temperature at which the ash formation is burnt. Alternatively or additionally, the ash formation or ash components are separated, for example, from the carrier material by the high temperature of the exhaust gas.

By introducing ash into the filter body of the particle filter, a high filter efficiency of the particle filter can already be achieved at the beginning of the service life of the particle filter. In particular at the start of operation of the particulate filter, the internal combustion engine of a vehicle equipped with a particulate filter therefore does not need to be operated or only needs to be operated to a lesser extent in such a way that the formation of soot particles is reduced as far as possible. The method can therefore also be carried out particularly simply and therefore at low cost. Furthermore, savings potential can be achieved in terms of the components or devices required for introducing the ash into the filter body of the particle filter and in terms of the personnel costs, in particular for the development.

As support material, at least one paper and/or at least one plastic can be used. As the ash formation, for example, a metal layer can be used. The paper with the metal layer as ash former can be provided particularly simply and inexpensively as a support material and is arranged upstream of the filter body, in particular on the input-side end side of the filter body. It is also conceivable to arrange the metal and/or metal oxide-containing slurry as an ash formation on a carrier material, in particular in the form of paper and/or plastic, in order to provide the ash.

The invention is based on the following knowledge, inter alia: soot can be burned off at sufficiently high temperatures and in the presence of oxygen. In contrast, the ash remains substantially in the particle filter, in particular in the filter body, over the entire service life. The invention therefore aims to introduce the ash into the filter body in advance, which ensures that the filtration efficiency (also called filtration rate) reaches a sufficiently high level, in particular before the vehicle leaves the plant and is delivered to the customer. The method according to the invention can be used in the context of the production of vehicles or in particular when replacing or retrofitting particle filters in a workshop, which method is based in particular on the fact that: the ash formation is in particular burnt by the flue gas or the at least one ash formation which directly forms at least part of the ash directly enters the filter body. This means that the ash formation and the ash components differ in particular in that the ash components themselves already form part of the ash to be introduced into the filter body. In contrast, the ash formation does not form an ash per se, but rather the ash formation is burnt in particular by the exhaust gas and thus provides the ash to be introduced into the filter body. In still other words, the ash formation is combusted to form ash to be introduced into the filter body. Combustion residues of the ash components are thereby produced, which constitute the ash to be introduced into the filter body. Finally, the combustion residue or ash is introduced into the filter body. The ash component does not, however, have to be burnt and does not provide the ash to be introduced into the filter body by combustion, but rather the ash component itself constitutes at least a part of the ash to be introduced into the filter body without combustion. The ash formation or ash component is positioned upstream of the filter body by means of the carrier material and thus the exhaust gas can flow onto and/or around it. This means that the ash formation or the ash component is exposed to the exhaust gas or the exhaust gas flow formed from the exhaust gas by positioning the ash formation or the ash component upstream of the filter body. The ash formation can thus be burnt, for example, by means of the exhaust gas and/or the ash formation or ash components can be separated from the support material and/or disintegrated and/or decomposed and/or the support material itself can be disintegrated or disintegrated and/or burnt by means of the exhaust gas.

By means of the method according to the invention, it is possible in a simple and therefore cost-effective manner to ensure that the particulate filter has a sufficiently high filtration rate already when the vehicle is delivered to the customer, so that it is also possible to ensure at any time in an extreme driving maneuver that a sufficient amount of particles are filtered out of the exhaust gas by the particulate filter in order to reliably meet legal requirements. Thus, even in the case of extreme driving maneuvers, particularly low-emission operation can be ensured already at the beginning of the service life of the vehicle. The present invention is an important contributor to ensuring that licensing is ensured under stringent RDE emissions regulations.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous to use a particle filter with a catalytic coating as the particle filter. This ensures particularly low-emission operation in a cost-effective manner. This means that the particle filter has at least one catalytically active coating. The space requirement of the particle filter is thus low, for example, in order to be able to install an additional three-way catalytic converter. As the particle filter is further operated, through which exhaust gas flows during operation, an increasing amount of particles is deposited in the particle filter, since it filters out particles from the exhaust gas. The amount of soot particles deposited in the particulate filter is also referred to as the load of the particulate filter (Beladung). The above-described regeneration of the particulate filter can be understood as at least reducing the load of the particulate filter. If the catalytic coating of the particle filter now catalyzes the regeneration of the particle filter, the regeneration of the particle filter is assisted by the catalytic coating. The coating can in particular catalytically assist active regeneration, in which the load is at least reduced by means of oxygen, and/or passive regeneration. In the passive regeneration range, in particular when the internal combustion engine is designed as a diesel engine, the load is at least reduced by means of nitrogen dioxide.

In order to be able to introduce the ash into the filter body in a particularly simple and therefore cost-effective manner, in a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that an organic material is used as the at least one support material.

In order to be able to introduce a sufficiently high ash content into the filter body in a particularly cost-effective manner, in a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that an ash former or an ash component is used as the at least one carrier material. The carrier material itself is therefore used for introducing ash into the filter body, so that particularly high amounts of ash can be introduced into the filter body in a simple manner.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous to use no further ash formers or ash components, at least on, next to or in the support material.

A further embodiment is characterized in that the support material is disintegrated, i.e. for example decomposed, by the exhaust gas, in particular by the temperature thereof. In other words, the support material is in particular pyrolyzed or decomposed by the exhaust gas, in particular by its temperature. If the support material itself is, for example, an ash component, the disintegrated or decomposed support material can be deposited in the filter body on the filter body or on the wall regions thereof, as a result of which particularly high filtration rates of the particle filter can be achieved in a simple manner. Furthermore, when the support material is an ash former, the disintegration or decomposition of the support material is understood to mean that the support material is burnt by means of exhaust gases. Thereby, combustion residues of the carrier material are produced, which constitute at least a part of the ash to be introduced into the filter body. The combustion residues of the carrier material, in particular together with the first ash component or with the combustion residues of the first ash formation, constitute the entire ash to be introduced into the filter body, whereby a particularly high ash content can be introduced into the filter body in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the carrier material is introduced or arranged in front of or above the end face of the particle filter, in particular the filter body, in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner or adhesively, i.e. in particular by means of an adhesive material or loosely, for example. In this way, ash can be introduced into the filter body in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the at least one ash former or ash component is connected to the carrier material in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner or adhesively, i.e., in particular by means of a binder material. The costs can thereby be kept particularly low.

Another embodiment is characterized in that the at least one ash former or ash component is loosely positioned or encapsulated in a carrier material. In particular, ash constituents or ash components can be conveyed or blown out of the carrier material by means of the exhaust gas and conveyed, in particular blown, into the filter body. In this case, for example, the ash formation is burnt by the exhaust gas.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spacing is formed by shaping the carrier material or by a spacer between the ash formation or ash component on the one hand and the carrier material and the particulate filter, in particular the filter body, on the other hand, by means of which the disadvantage of direct contact with the particulate filter, in particular with the filter body or the end wall of the particulate filter, or the advantage of the distribution of the ash in the particulate filter, in particular in the filter body, can be avoided. In other words, for example, the carrier material and the ash formation or ash component form a structural unit which is arranged at the aforementioned distance from the particle filter, in particular from the filter body. This spacing (also referred to as distance) between the structural unit and the particle filter, in particular the filter body, is produced by shaping or spacing elements of the carrier material. Such a spacing of the structural unit from the particle filter, in particular from the filter body, prevents the structural unit from coming into direct contact with the filter body, so that possible disadvantages resulting therefrom can be avoided. Alternatively or additionally, ash can be distributed particularly advantageously through the gap and can therefore be introduced into the filter body in a simple manner and particularly advantageously.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the support material and/or the ash former or the ash component has at least two layers or has a shape which provides at least one cavity for introducing the ash former or the ash component. In other words, the layer partially defines a cavity or the shape has a cavity, respectively, into which an ash former or ash component is introduced. In still other words, for example, ash formations or ash components are contained in the cavity formed by the layer or shape. In this way, ash can be provided to the filter body in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner.

In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the ash formation or the ash component is printed onto a carrier material, whereby at least one printed layer is produced from the ash formation or the ash component. The printing is preferably 3D printing, by means of which the ash component or ash formation is printed onto the carrier material. Whereby the carrier material is provided with at least one printed layer made of an ash former or ash component. In this way, the above-described structural unit can be produced in a particularly time-saving and cost-effective manner, so that the ash can be introduced into the filter body at a particularly low cost.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous to produce locally different distributions of ash formers or ash components on the carrier material in the at least one printed layer.

Another embodiment is characterized in that the ash former or ash component is made of at least two different materials. In other words, the ash former or ash component comprises at least two different materials. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable for the respective materials from which the ash formation or the ash component is produced to be applied or introduced onto and/or alongside and/or into the carrier material in locally different concentrations.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the ash former or ash components and/or the carrier material are subsequently or previously punched, needled or perforated in order to increase the flowability. For example, the ash former or the ash components and/or the carrier material are punched before they are arranged upstream of the filter body. By punching, needling or perforating, the ash formation or the ash components and/or the carrier material are provided with at least one or preferably a plurality of through-flow openings through which the exhaust gas can flow. The exhaust gas back pressure can thereby be kept particularly low.

Another embodiment is characterized in that metals, metal oxides or metal compounds are used as ash formers or ash components. This makes it possible to introduce the ash into the filter body particularly easily and at low cost.

In a further embodiment of the invention, in the context of the production of a vehicle equipped with a particle filter, the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is operated in such a way that the conditions suitable for the entry of ash into the filter body and/or the disintegration or decomposition of the carrier material are set at least in the region of the ash formation or ash components. The conditions include in particular the temperature of the exhaust gas, being so high that the exhaust gas, in particular the temperature thereof, burns the ash formation and/or disintegrates or decomposes the carrier material and/or burns the carrier material, in particular when the carrier material is an ash formation and/or separates the ash formation or the ash components from the carrier material. The above-described structural units can thus be disintegrated or decomposed, for example, by the conditions mentioned, so that a sufficiently high ash content can be introduced into the filter body in a particularly simple manner.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the temperature and/or mass flow of the exhaust gas flowing through the particulate filter and in this case in particular through the filter body of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle equipped with the particulate filter is regulated in such a way that at least a major part of the ash is deposited on at least one wall of the filter body. In this way, a particularly high filtration rate of the filter body can be achieved in a simple manner.

The internal combustion engine may be designed as a gasoline engine or may be operated or operated as a gasoline engine, for example. It is also contemplated that the internal combustion engine may be configured as or may operate as a diesel engine. The internal combustion engine may also be configured as a gas turbine, steam engine, or other internal combustion engine. The invention can therefore be used in any internal combustion engine.

Another embodiment is characterized in that the use of metals, metal oxides or metal compounds as ash formers or ash components or ash formers has metals, metal oxides or metal compounds.

In a further embodiment of the invention, provision is made for alkali metals, alkali metal oxides, alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal carbonates or alkali metal compounds to be used as ash formers or ash components.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the alkali metal bound to silicon, such as the so-called water glass, is present as an ash former or ash component.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that alkaline earth metals, alkaline earth metal oxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal carbonates or alkaline earth metal compounds are used as ash formers or ash components.

Another embodiment is characterized in that magnesium, magnesium oxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide or magnesium compounds are used as ash formers or ash components.

Finally, it has proven advantageous to use calcium, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide or calcium compounds as ash formers or ash components.

The invention also relates to a particle filter for a vehicle internal combustion engine, comprising a filter body which can be traversed or bypassed by the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine and which serves for filtering particles, in particular soot particles, which may be contained in the exhaust gas.

In order to be able to introduce the ash into the filter body of the particle filter in a particularly simple manner, it is provided according to the invention that at least one ash former or at least one ash component is arranged at least indirectly on at least one carrier material upstream of the filter body in the flow direction of the exhaust gas. The advantages and advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention should be regarded as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the offgas duct according to the invention and vice versa.

Drawings

Further details of the invention are given by the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the figures. The attached drawings are as follows:

fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a particle filter according to the invention for a vehicle, in particular for a vehicle internal combustion engine, according to a first embodiment, wherein the method according to the invention according to the first embodiment is shown with the aid of fig. 1;

fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a particle filter according to the invention according to a second embodiment, wherein the method according to the invention according to the second embodiment is illustrated by means of fig. 2;

fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a particle filter according to the invention according to a third embodiment, wherein the method according to the invention according to the third embodiment is illustrated by means of fig. 3;

fig. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a particle filter according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment, wherein the method according to the invention according to the fourth embodiment is illustrated by means of fig. 4;

fig. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a particle filter according to the invention according to a fifth embodiment, wherein the method according to the invention according to the fifth embodiment is illustrated by means of fig. 5;

fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a carrier material of a particle filter according to the invention according to a sixth embodiment;

fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of a carrier material of a particle filter according to the invention according to a seventh embodiment;

fig. 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a carrier material of a particle filter according to the invention according to an eighth embodiment;

fig. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of a carrier material of a particle filter according to the invention according to a ninth embodiment; and

fig. 10 shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle designed as a motor vehicle, which is equipped with a particle filter and an internal combustion engine.

Detailed Description

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a particle filter 1 according to a first embodiment of a vehicle designed as a motor vehicle. The vehicle is in particular designed as a motor vehicle and is preferably designed as a passenger car. The vehicle is shown schematically in fig. 10 and is denoted there by reference numeral 15. The vehicle 15 is equipped with the particle filter 1 and with an internal combustion engine 14, which is preferably designed as a gasoline engine or operates as a gasoline engine. Alternatively, the internal combustion engine 14 may be a diesel engine or other internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine 14 has at least one or more combustion chambers, which are designed, for example, as cylinders. During the ignition operation of the internal combustion engine 14, the respective combustion chamber is supplied with at least air and fuel, in particular liquid fuel, so that a fuel-air mixture is produced in the respective combustion chamber. The fuel-air mixture combusts, thereby producing exhaust gases for the internal combustion engine 14. This means that during the ignition operation, exhaust gases are generated in the internal combustion engine 14, in particular in the respective combustion chamber, which exhaust gases are provided by the internal combustion engine 14. In this case, an exhaust gas duct 16 is provided, through which exhaust gases are discharged from the respective combustion chamber. The exhaust gas duct 16 can therefore be traversed by exhaust gas or, during ignition operation, the exhaust gas duct 16 can be traversed by exhaust gas. The particle filter 1 is arranged in the exhaust gas duct 16 and can be traversed by the exhaust gas. Particles, in particular soot particles, which may be contained in the exhaust gas, are at least partially filtered out of the exhaust gas by means of the particle filter 1 by depositing the particles in the exhaust gas flowing through the particle filter 1 on the particle filter 1, in particular in its interior. As the operating time increases, the amount of particles deposited in the particle filter 1, which is also referred to as the loading of the particle filter 1, increases. In order to at least reduce the load on the particle filter 1, the particle filter 1 is regenerated. This regeneration is also referred to as filter regeneration.

The particle filter 1 comprises a housing 2 in which a filter body 3 through which exhaust gas can flow is arranged. The filter body 3 is, for example, a structural element which is designed separately from the housing 2 and is arranged in the housing 2. The filter body 3 has a multiplicity of channels and/or flow openings, which cannot be seen further in the drawing, through which the exhaust gas flows during the ignition operation. The flow direction of the exhaust gas through the particle filter 1 is indicated in fig. 1 by the arrow 6, the exhaust gas flowing through the particle filter 1 in the flow direction or in the flow direction.

In order to be able to achieve a particularly high filtration rate or filtration efficiency of the particle filter 1 particularly early, a method for operating the particle filter 1 is carried out. In this method, ash is introduced into the filter body 3 in a targeted manner. In order to be able to introduce ash into the filter body 3 in a particularly simple and therefore cost-effective manner, at least one ash element 8 is arranged at least indirectly, in particular directly, on at least one carrier material 9 upstream of the filter body 3 in the flow direction of the exhaust gas. In this case, ash elements 8 and carrier material 9 are arranged in housing 2 and are arranged upstream of filter body 3, for example at least ash element 8 is spaced apart from filter body 3, in particular at least in the flow direction of the exhaust gas. In the context of the above-described method, it is therefore provided that the at least one ash element 8 is arranged at least indirectly on the at least one carrier material 9 upstream of the filter body 3 with respect to the flow direction of the exhaust gas flowing through the particle filter 1.

The at least one ash component 8 can be, for example, at least one ash formation, from which the ash to be introduced into the filter body 3 is formed, in particular, in such a way that it is burnt by the exhaust gas, in particular by its temperature. Whereby combustion residues are produced from the ash formation, which is ash. This ash is subsequently introduced into the filter body 3, in particular by entraining the combustion residues, i.e. the ash, with the exhaust gas and thus conveying it into the filter body 3. It is also contemplated that the at least one ash component 8 is at least one ash component. The ash component is itself ash and therefore itself constitutes at least a part of the ash which is or should be introduced into the filter body 3. In other words, the ash component constitutes at least a portion of the ash and the ash component does not burn. Both the ash element 8 and the carrier material 9 are solid parts. This means that ash elements 8 and carrier material 9 have a solid state of aggregation during their positioning or arrangement upstream of filter body 3 in the flow direction of the exhaust gas flowing through particulate filter 1. In a first embodiment, the components, i.e. the ash element 8 and the carrier material 9, are connected to one another or abut against one another, for example. In particular, it is conceivable to arrange ash elements 8 on and/or in carrier material 9, in particular in cavities of carrier material 9.

The ash elements 8 and the carrier material 9 form, for example, a structural unit which is arranged, for example, in its entirety in the solid state of aggregation in the housing 2 and is arranged upstream of the filter body 3. In a first embodiment, for example, the structural unit and thus the ash element 8 and the carrier material 9 are arranged upstream of the inlet-side end face 7 of the filter body 3 with respect to the flow direction, wherein the structural unit is arranged or supported, for example, at least indirectly, in particular directly, on the end face 7 of the filter body 3, in particular by the carrier material 9. The structural unit may consist of, for example, a coil

Or formed from a plurality of coils, the respective coils may be made of a metal paper. This means that, especially when ash elements 8 are configured as ash formations,the corresponding coil has, for example, paper as the carrier material 9 and metal as the ash element 8. The metal is thus disposed on and intertwined with the paperAnd shaped into respective coils.

In the first embodiment, ash element 8 and carrier material 9 are parts which are designed separately from one another and are connected to one another, ash element 8 being arranged on and held on the carrier material. In particular the ash elements 8 are arranged and held on the carrier material 9, in particular on the surface of the carrier material 9. The carrier material 9 is for example a material other than the ash former and the ash components.

The structural unit and therefore the ash elements 8 and the carrier material 9 can be arranged very simply in the intake region 11 of the housing 2, the structural unit being arranged downstream of the funnel-shaped widening section of the intake region 11. In particular, the structural unit is arranged in a further section of the intake region 11, which may have, for example, the shape of a right circular cylinder at least on the inner circumferential side. For example, ash elements 8 and carrier material 9 can be fed, in particular, in a state in which ash elements 8 are arranged on carrier material 9 and thus form a structural unit, via a front-side inlet of particle filter 1 into housing 2, in particular into intake region 11, in particular into housing 2 or intake region 11. Even if a plurality of structural elements, such as coils, are arranged in the intake region 11, the exhaust gas can flow around or through the filter body 3 very well. At least one auxiliary agent can be applied to the structural unit, in particular to the ash element 8 and/or the carrier material 9, which auxiliary agent ensures that the structural unit advantageously adheres to the end face 7 of the filter body 3. This applies in particular when the structural unit is designed to be essentially planar and to bear essentially planar against the end face 7.

Metals, metal oxides or metal compounds can be used as ash components 8, especially ash formers or ash components. Especially ash element 8, may have a slurry comprising metals and/or oxides, especially metal oxides. Such a metal paste can be arranged without difficulty upstream of the filter body 3 and applied, for example, to the end side 7. It is also conceivable to apply the metal suspension of the ash elements 8 to a carrier material 9, which can be made of paper and/or plastic, for example. For example, by regulating the operation of internal combustion engine 14, conditions can be set which result in at least a substantial deposition of the ash provided by ash element 8 in or on filter body 3, in particular on the walls of filter body 3. This can be achieved by: a suitable and sufficiently high temperature and a suitable exhaust gas mass flow are set in the particle filter 1 by corresponding operation of the internal combustion engine 14 arranged upstream of the particle filter 1 and in this case at least in the region of the structural unit. For example, particles contained in the exhaust gas are blocked by the filter body 3 when the exhaust gas flows through the filter body 3.

The ash is preferably introduced into the filter body 3 when the internal combustion engine 14 is first operated. In this first operation, the internal combustion engine 14 performs its ignition operation. The corresponding operation of the internal combustion engine 14 preferably ensures that conditions suitable for the introduction of ash into the filter body 3 are present in the intake region 11 and thus at least in the region of the structural unit during the production of the vehicle 15. By means of said conditions, for example, ash components 8 are separated from carrier material 9 and/or ash components 8 are burned, in particular when ash components 8 are formed as ash formations, and/or ash components 8 are disintegrated or decomposed, whereby the ash can be distributed, for example, finely. It is also conceivable that the carrier material 9 is disintegrated or decomposed by said conditions, especially when at least another ash former or at least another ash component is used as carrier material 9. If, for example, the further ash formation mentioned above is used as the carrier material 9, it can be provided that the further ash formation is burnt by the conditions mentioned, whereby the ash to be introduced into the filter body 3 is formed.

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the carrier material 9, which is in particular in the solid state or in the solid aggregate state, is formed as one or as the ash element 8. It is also conceivable to mix the ash elements 8 into the carrier material 9.

Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment. In a third embodiment, ash component 8 and carrier material 9 are designed as separate parts from one another, ash component 8 being in particular completely accommodated or encapsulated in carrier material 9. Ash component 8 may be configured or present as particulate material, among other things. The carrier material 9, which can be designed as a carrier, forms at least one cavity 4, in which the ash component 8 is in particular completely accommodated. At least one opening of the carrier material 9 is formed, for example, by the heat of the exhaust gas, for example, where the ash component 8 or ash flows out of the cavity 4, for example, through the opening and can then enter the particle filter.

Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the ash element 8 is held on the carrier material 9, and the ash element 8 and the carrier material 9 may be configured as parts that are configured separately from each other and are connected to each other. At least one or more spacers 10 are provided. The spacer element 10 is supported, for example, at least indirectly, in particular directly, on the filter body 3 and, in this case, on the end face (also referred to as end face) 7. The ash element 8 is spaced apart from the filter body 3, in particular from the end face 7, at least in the flow direction of the exhaust gas by the spacers 10. For example, the carrier material 9 is supported at least indirectly, in particular directly, on the filter body 3, in particular on the end face 7, by means of the spacers 10. The end side 7 extends, for example, in a plane extending at least substantially perpendicularly to the flow direction of the exhaust gas. The respective spacer 10 is currently made, for example, of a carrier material 9. Preferably, ash element 8 is completely spaced from filter body 3 so that ash element 8 does not contact filter body 3. For example, ash element 8 is formed in one piece. Alternatively or additionally, it is preferred to provide exactly one ash component in the form of ash component 8.

Fig. 5 shows a fifth embodiment. The fifth embodiment is, for example, a combination of the first, third, and fourth embodiments. The structural unit and/or the carrier material 9 and/or the ash element 8 can be connected to the filter body 3, in particular to the end face 7, for example in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting and/or material-fitting manner.

Fig. 6 shows a carrier material 9 according to a sixth embodiment, wherein the carrier material 9 can be one or the ash elements 8, or the ash elements 8 are mixed into the carrier material 9. In a sixth embodiment, connecting elements 5 are provided, which are made of a carrier material 9 and/or an ash element 8, for example. The carrier material 9 or the ash element 8 is connected to the filter body 3, for example, in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner, by means of the connecting element 5. Furthermore, connecting element 5 can serve as a spacer element for spacing ash element 8 from filter body 3, in particular from end face 7.

The particle filter 1, in particular the filter body 3, has a catalytically active coating, for example. In particular, at least one partial region of the filter body 3 is provided with a catalytically active coating. The catalytically active coating acts, for example, as an oxidation catalyst, so that the particle filter 1 is designed as a catalytically active particle filter.

Fig. 7 shows a seventh embodiment. The carrier material 9' is free of ash elements 8, i.e. free of ash formation and ash components. The carrier material 9 has, for example, a carrier and one or more ash elements 8, wherein the carrier material 9 with the ash elements 8 and the carrier material 9' are designed as structural elements which are designed separately from one another and are connected to one another. For this purpose, a first connecting element 12 is provided, which is made of a carrier material 9', for example. Furthermore, a second connecting piece 13 is provided, which is produced, for example, from the carrier material 9, in particular its carrier, and/or from the ash element 8. Carrier material 9' and carrier material 9 are connected to one another with ash elements 8 by means of connectors 12 and 13. Such a connection via the connecting elements 12 and 13 can be, for example, force-locking and/or form-locking and/or material-locking. The connection of the connecting pieces 12 and 13 may in particular be adhesive.

Fig. 8 shows an eighth embodiment, in which the carrier material 9 is one or the ash elements 8, or the ash elements 8 are mixed into the carrier material 9.

Fig. 9 finally shows a ninth embodiment. The carrier material 9 has no ash elements, so that the carrier material 9 is free of ash formers and ash components. The ash elements 8 are here partially arranged or held on a carrier material 9. The carrier material 9 "is or comprises an ash element and the carrier materials 9 and 9" are connected to each other. The ash elements 8 are also arranged or held in part on the carrier material 9 ″.

List of reference numerals

1 particulate filter

2 casing

3 Filter body

4 cavity

5 connecting element

6 arrow head

7 end side

8 ash component

9. 9', 9' support material

11 air intake zone

12 connecting piece

13 connecting piece

14 internal combustion engine

15 vehicle

16 waste gas channel